Education Thread

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

AIOU's tutors, students to receive computers at low prices​

ISLAMABAD, Jan 12, 2008: The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has planned to provide computers to its tutors and students at low prices, as part of efforts to improve its distant learning facility, said Vice Chancellor Mahmoodul Hassan Butt.

In an interview on Friday, he said the university had drawn up a contract with Intel Corporation to deliver computers to the university's tutors and students at affordable prices. The move, the VC said, would usher in silent revolution in the university's distant learning facility, weaving a strong network between the university and its beneficiaries in distant places of the country.

Replying to a question, he said the university had hired about 25,000 tutors for one semester while pursuing an effective criteria, in addition to a growing number of distant learners. He said that the university was taking concrete steps to end the practice of plagiarism among students, whose number was significant enough to ensure quality workforce for national development.

The VC informed that last year, the university's competent team found what he described a 'significant' number of students involved in plagiarism when they cross-checked their assignment of only one subject.

"Plagiarism is like a termite, eating up creativity within students and the number of addicts to such practice was significant, almost 60 percent, I tell you, as intake in just one semester is 650,000", the VC observed. To discourage the practice, the VC said the assignments of such students had been rejected and were sent back with an admission cancellation notice.

Moreover, he said directives had been issued to the concerned university's inspection teams to accelerate the frequency of their surprise visits to examination centres to effectively tackle the issue of unfair means.

A university did not mean to produce degrees and disseminate among students just knowledge, rather it created knowledge by encouraging its students to conduct research, the VC remarked.

"Unless a child is given proper education, society cannot evolve into a prosperous place of living and this can easily be substantiated through the annals of history", he said. Answering to another question, the VC said that he was appointed to the post in line with the policy of the HEC and he would continue serving the nation.

AIOU appoints first Tenure Track Professor​

Allama Iqbal Open University has appointed Professor Dr. Muhammad Kaleem Tahir in the Department of Chemistry as the first Tenure Track Professor in accordance with HEC prescribed criteria.

Allama Iqbal Open University has introduced the new Higher Education Commission (HEC) prescribed criteria for the first time with this appointment.

Dr. Kaleem started his Professional Career in 1973. He did his Doctorate in Chemistry from Stockholm University and Post Doctorate from Harvard University.

For the appointment on the Tenure Track System, Technical Review Committee evaluated the research. Selection panel consisted of three National and International experts. On the recommendation of the experts, selection board of the University has approved the appointment of Dr. Kaleem Tahir as Tenure Track Professor.

The Tenure Track System is the highest salary system to University Professors in Pakistan ranging from 100 to 300 thousand rupees per month.

AIOU has already advertised 34 vacant posts of Professors under the Tenure Track System. APP
'AIOU's tutors, students to receive computers at low prices'

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

HEC Talent Training Programme​

Islamabad, Jan 11, 2008: The Higher Education Commission Islamabad (HEC) has invited applications from the permanent faculty members of public sector universities and degree-awarding institutions under a programme entitled 'Talent Training Programme for Technical and Scientific Staff and Researchers'.

The programme has been designed with the objective to accelerate the quantum of research and development in universities.

Under this programme the scientific, technical staff, researchers and teachers of public sector universities can avail the grant for short term local as well as foreign trainings of their own choice but related to their field. The selected candidates can themselves identify the appropriate training institutes within the country. In case of non-availability of sufficient training facilities within the country, they may seek the training facilities abroad.

If the training can be done within Pakistan then travel allowance as per entitlement up to Rs12,000, stipend Rs1,500 per day for the entire period of training. User charges/bench fee up to Rs50,000 will be paid to the host institution. If the training is done abroad the selected scholars will be paid economy class return air ticket up to Rs75,000, maintenance allowance $1,200 per month, user charges up to $1,000. Duration of the training will be 1 to 3 months.

The applicants have been advised to visit HEC website Higher Education Commission Pakistan - for further details. The News

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

HEC invites applications from unemployed graduates​

Islamabad, Jan 5, 2008: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has invited applications from Pakistani citizens for award of subsistence allowance to unemployed graduates on merit under the scheme "Supports to Scientific Talent" at the rate of Rs 10,000 per month.

All the M.Sc.or graduates having 16 years of education in 1st division or equivalent grade in the disciplines of Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Electronics, Veterinary Sciences and Agriculture are eligible for this allowance.

The HEC has advised the applicants to submit a certificate from the University or college to the effect that the candidate will be given teaching assignment if selected under the scheme.

The selected candidates would be paid subsistence allowance at the rate indicated above for a maximum period of one year by the HEC upon submission of regular progress report from heads of the institutions. App

 

[Neo]

Thanks AM, nice posts!

I want to revive this thread and actually discuss the topic instead of copy-pasting new articles.

Since I'm not very familiar with the educational system in our country I hope you take the lead in this.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Some very welcome developments at Punjab University. Most of you may already be familiar with the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor, Dr. Mujahid Kamran - here is some detailed information on that development, and some positive related ones. The hold of the IJT may be broken yet!

Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran appointed new PU VC​

LAHORE, Jan 04, 2008: Governor Lt Gen (r) Khalid Maqbool on Thursday appointed Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran new vice chancellor (VC) of the Punjab University (PU) on the Search Committee's (SC) recommendations.

The appointment of PU VC had become one of the burning issues on the campus, as the post was vacant since September 2007 after Lt Gen (r) Arshad Mehmood, was not granted extension. Arshad was appointed in 1999 as PU VC. Prof Dr Arif Butt, the Institute of Chemical Engineering director, had been serving as the acting VC.

The Search Committee has submitted three names (Prof Arif Butt (acting VC), Dr Mujahid Kamran and PU registrar Prof Dr Naeem Khan) to the governor for the VC slot. The Search Committee had advertised the post in September 2007 for only PhD degree holders. The committee had received about 50 applications. After conducting interviews, the committee had forwarded three names to governor.

The political groups on the campus were at loggerheads over appointment a VC from their groups. The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) had been trying to appoint Dr Arif Butt – allegedly pro-Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT). The association had also opposed the appointment of former army generals and outsiders as VC.

The Teachers Front, another group in PU comprising senior teachers had been campaigning for Dr Mujahid Kamran – Physics Department chairman.

The governor announced Prof Kamran's appointment at the Institute of Bio-Chemistry and Biotechnology auditorium, during a special visit to PU. Dr Mujahid said he would try to bring PU among the world's best universities.

Profile of Dr Mujahid Kamran: Dr Kamran has a long and distinguished association with the PU. He joined the PU Physics Department, as lecturer in 1972, became an assistant professor in 1982 and associate professor in 1986 and professor in 1988. He has won the Abdus Salam Prize (1985), the National Book Council Award in 1986 and the Presidential Pride of Performance Award in 1999. He was the Physics Department chairman from 1995 to 2001 and Faculty of Sciences dean from 2004 to 2007.

At the time of his appointment as the PU VC he was serving as Physics Department chairman. He authored sixty research papers and five books. His book on the lives and works of founding fathers of modern physics has won the National Book Foundation Award in 1997. A former Senior Fulbright Fellow, he has long association with the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy. He did his matriculation from Sir Syed School (1965), FSc (1967) and BSc (1969) from Gordon College, Rawalpindi. He did his MSc from Punjab University (1971) and did his PhD in Theoretical Physics from University of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1979. He has won merit scholarships from 1965-71. Being a dedicated teacher, he has sent about 35 students for higher studies on scholarships to the US and Europe.

New PU VC reappoints sacked registrar​

The newly appointed vice chancellor of the Punjab University (PU) has reappointed PU former Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan on Thursday.

Earlier, PU Acting vice chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Arif Butt, in an unexpected move, relived him of duties on Tuesday.

It is learnt that Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal Jadoon, who was assigned additional duties of PU registrar by the acting vice chancellor has been resigned from the post of registrar soon after the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran of the PU on the pretext that owing to research work and academic activities in his department he could not perform additional duties of registrar.

The abrupt decisions by the PU high-ups created confusion among the faculty members, staff and students alike.

A senior PU professor, on condition of anonymity, said the unexpected decisions had not only puzzled the whole teaching, non-teaching staff and students but had also raised serious questions regarding these developments.

He added it was prevailing perception among faculty members that as if the acting VC and the new VC are lobbying for each other by appointing their favourite as the registrar.

It is pertinent to mention here that in an unexpected move, Acting VC Dr Arif Butt had replaced the university registrar, Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan, with Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal Jadoon, who is already working as a Director of Institute of Administrative Sciences (IAS) and is also Dean Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences.

VC Dr Mujahid Kamran while accepting resignation of Dr Jadoon on Thursday has reappointed Prof Dr Naeem Khan as PU Registrar. Dr Mujahid Kamran was not available for comments. The News

Nothing puzzling in the appointment of Dr. Naeem Khan. He was sacked because he chose to act independently of the IJT by the pro IJT acting VC Arif Butt. A good man like that should be brought back.

Four PU teachers resign with appointment of new VC​

LAHORE, Jan 05, 2008: Four Punjab University (PU) teachers on Friday resigned from their additional duties with the appointment of a new vice chancellor (VC) of the university, Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran.

Prof Azher Ikram worked as a chairman of the PU Hall Council, Sami Uzair as deputy chairman of the Hall Council, Dr Asmatullah as resident officer and Ch Nazir Ahmad as PU student advisor. The teachers submitted their resignations to the VC on Friday, which he accepted.

Dr Zafar Iqbal Jadoon had resigned two days earlier when the new VC was announced.

The teachers have been known for their affiliation with the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT). The teachers were also among the senior members of the PU Academic Staff Association, a group of PU teachers – predominantly inclined towards the IJT. The group had struggled to make Prof Dr Arif Butt, the former VC, retain his seat. However, the new VC had been chosen from the other teachers' group known as Teachers' Front. The two groups have always been at loggerheads with one another.

The new VC has issued a notice of the new appointments. According to the notice, Dr Saeed Ahmad Nagra has been appointed as chairman of the PU Hall Council, Dr Bashir Ahmad as PU resident officer. A notification for the PU students' advisor was expected to be announced today (Saturday).

Prof Ikram said that they had jointly submitted their resignation, but if the VC would ask them, they would offer their services for the welfare of the university. "This is the tradition of the university that the new VC selects a new team, so we have vacated the seats," he said. "A new era of development has begun with the appointment of the new VC."

PU registrar Dr Naeem Ahmad Khan said the teachers who had resigned from their position had vowed to continue their efforts for the university's development.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

I want to revive this thread and actually discuss the topic instead of copy-pasting new articles.

Since I'm not very familiar with the educational system in our country I hope you take the lead in this.

Akalmand ko Ishara kaafi hai!

Sure thing Neo

The National Education Policy is reportedly being released by the end of this month. It will be interesting to go through and pick it apart. There will be plenty to discuss, and criticize (hopefully not).

 

[Neo]

Don't get me wrong, please keep supporting the thread with news articles.

 

[Neo]

I'm concerned about the pathetic state this sector is in, we have the lowest enrolement percentage in the region!

Never understood how this could have happened, we have a strong and growing middle class with access to countries finest institutes.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

No offence taken Neo, and thank you for clarifying - I was going to stop posting News articles.

There is an issue with the attitudes towards education IMO.

I was thinking about this the other day, and I am generalizing here and speaking to my experiences only, but the disparaging attitudes of the "Hindu Baniya" and "Chalak Yahoodi", and our own obsession with the military aspects of our history and military conquests and victories, tend to downplay the importance of education and place physical strength over "brain power".

The social obstacles of poverty and rural lifestyle exist to similar degrees in all of South Asia, so that alone cannot be the reason for our low ranking, relative to the other South Asian nations.

The first part of my post is a very raw thought process - so critique and other opinions are welcome.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Some more thoughts on higher education- I think while we may have had quality educational institutions, I don't think we have had the sort of choices we do currently, and there has never been a central body like the HEC to monitor and accredit higher education institutions that students can look to as a resource.

Without the HEC, perhaps people thought that the only schools worth going into were the top tier ones, and anything else just didn't cut it. Now there is a plethora of second and third tier schools, accredited by the HEC, that accept students with from across the performance scale. This may give hope to a lot of really bright kids that all is not lost if they don't do well on their 10 -12 grade exams (and don't have a rich daddy to buy them a seat).

A stagnant economy with little job growth in fields requiring higher education may have also contributed. Another issue I have observed for a while is the whole "BA pass" thing. What exactly does being a "BA pass" qualify you to do? Almost every time I go to Pakistan I hear people complain about how "itnay saray BA pass chowkidari kar rahay hain"!
There has been a neglect of proper academic guidance for students leaving high school, and perhaps with so many enrolling in "BA" programs, that do not train them for fields that are in demand, a perception of "futility in pursuing higher education may have developed.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

36,000 schools built, renovated in Punjab​

* Rs 6.974 billion provided g 1,800 employees to benefit

LAHORE: The National Logistics Corporation (NLC) has undertaken construction, renovation and extension work of 36,000 schools in Punjab under the Education Sector Reform Programme (ESRP).
Punjab NLC Project Director Brigadier (r) Muhammad Ali Saeed told journalists that the provincial government had provided Rs 6.974 billion initially for this purpose.
“Of the total 36,000, work on 4,348 schools will be completed by November this year and developmental work on 2,000 schools is under way at a fast pace, while 600 schools have already been handed over to the Punjab Government after completion,” he said. Under the Health Sector Reform Programme (HSRP), he said, the provincial government provided Rs 2.855 billion in funds to the Corporation for renovation projects of Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centres (RHCs). The NLC project director further said that out of the total 2,456 units, 1,305 would be completed by November this year.
He said that a grant of Rs 2.85 billion would be spent on the construction and extension of 139 colleges in the first phase and work on 56 colleges had already been started, while 216 colleges would be renovated in the second phase of the project.
Brigadier (r) Saeed said the corporation would also construct 176 new patrolling posts and undertake extension work of existing 347 posts that would cost a total of Rs 2.52 billion. The corporation was also awarded a Rs 1.3 billion project for construction and renovation of 30 urban and 26 rural police stations, he said, adding that the NLC would complete both the projects within 18 months after receiving funds from the provincial government. Brigadier (r) Saeed said the NLC, from its profits, would construct 35 new schools- six elementary and 29 primary schools- throughout Punjab at a cost of Rs 140 million. Under this project, construction of four schools has already been underway, he said, similarly the corporation would recycle profits from the ESRP.
In addition to district offices, the NLC established regional offices in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur, where 1,800 employees including retired army men are performing their duties. app
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Capital to have medical university​

* Teaching hospital to have 300-bed capacity, with 2,500 undergraduate students

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to set up a modern hospital cum medical university in collaboration with the Harvard Medical International, USA, at a cost of Rs 18 billion. The university will be built at the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Islamabad.

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Attaur Rehman said this while giving a briefing to Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro during a meeting at the Prime Minister House on Tuesday. Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr M Akram Sheikh and senior officials were also present on the occasion.

Dr Atta said that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard had been signed between the DHA and the HEC on Monday. The Harvard Medical International, USA, will provide assistance in terms of planning and execution of the project, he added.

Hospital capacity: “Initially it will be a teaching hospital with a capacity of 300 beds, which will be further expanded to 500 beds. A total of 2,500 students will be taught at the graduate level, while additional 600 seats will be available for postgraduate research courses,” he added.

Dr Atta said the Harvard Medical International had entered a long-term relationship with the DHA to help build a health and education complex on 100 acres of land in Islamabad. The postgraduate research will focus on neuro science, tropical diseases and other related disciplines.

Soomro said that the establishment of such a state-of-the-art hospital cum university would go a long way in bridging the gap of modern medical facilities available in the country.

Soomro appreciated the initiative taken by the DHA to set up a modern hospital cum medical university in the capital. Stressing the need for establishing more quality institutions in other discipline, he said the proposed hospital and medical university was the need of the hour, which would not only cater to the needs of the local people but international students as well.

The prime minister said the project would ensure provision of all modern medical facilities making it possible for the students to benefit from the latest medical technology for their research and would also make latest medical treatment available to the people in the country. He said such kind of projects would help ensure resource mobilisation in the country.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

GCU to set up two new campuses
​

LAHORE: The Government College University (GCU) is planning to extend its network by setting up two campuses in Islamabad and Kala Shah Kaku.

The government has allocated 371 acres in Kala Shah Kaku for the campus and has allocated Rs 531 million for construction. The Higher Education Commission has pledged to provide funds for establishing laboratories on this campus.

GCU Media Relations director Iqbal Anjum told Daily Times that the school was working to set up two campuses in Islamabad and Kala Shah Kaku. “The building of the main campus is situated in a place where it cannot be expanded while, currently, 6,000 students across the country are attaining education from the school. The demand for the school is ever increasing. GCU Vice chancellor Prof Khalid Aftab wants to elevate the status of the school to the world’s top institutes,” he said.

Anjum said the land allocated in Kala Shah Kaku was in the area that was often hit by floods. “We are working to construct the building is such a way that it is not affected by flooding,” he said. Apart from these two campuses, the school was also working to upgrade the building of the main campus, he added.

He said the school was now focusing to promote a research culture. “There are 60 foreigners in the faculty who are teaching at various departments. We have invested Rs 20 million to construct a multipurpose and multi-storey building, the Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics, where a sophisticated nuclear accelerator has been installed for research purposes. Students from other universities are also benefiting from the facility,” he said and added that the GCU was the first to adopt the Tenure Track System, which was another step towards its goal. adnan lodhi
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Nafees]

Capital to have medical university​

* Teaching hospital to have 300-bed capacity, with 2,500 undergraduate students

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to set up a modern hospital cum medical university in collaboration with the Harvard Medical International, USA, at a cost of Rs 18 billion. The university will be built at the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Islamabad.

I dont think that it will be a right decision to built it at DHA. Why it not been in civilian campus?

 

[salman nedian]

Capital to have medical university​

* Teaching hospital to have 300-bed capacity, with 2,500 undergraduate students

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to set up a modern hospital cum medical university in collaboration with the Harvard Medical International, USA, at a cost of Rs 18 billion. The university will be built at the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Islamabad.

I dont think that it will be a right decision to built it at DHA. Why it not been in civilian campus?

DHA doesn’t mean that civilians can’t go there it is Defense housing but civilians also live there.I did my Intermediate from DHA Degree college (DHA Karachi) and I am a civilian so no problem with that.

Well on Szabist website I saw that they offer tuition for University of London check the link below.

Law Admission